ES2533371T3 - Safety trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety trailer (1400, 1700), comprising: first and second platforms (1404, 1704 and 1408, 1708) comprising at least one set of wheels, a longitudinal axle (1500) and a positionable safety wall (1412) between the first (1404,1704) and second (1408, 1708) platform to define a protected area of a vehicular incursion, characterized in that said safety wall (1412, 1712) is rotatably coupled to at least one of the first and second platform to rotate up or down when deployed in such a way that - the height of the deployed safety wall (1412, 1712) is substantially the same as the width of the trailer platform; - the axis of rotation of the safety wall is substantially parallel to and spatially displaced from the longitudinal axis (1500) of the safety trailer (1400.1700) on one side of said axis; and - a plane containing both the axis of rotation of the safety wall (1412, 1712) and the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer (1400.1700) is not vertical but transverse to a vertical plane.

Description

E10746924

03-20-2015

DESCRIPTION

Safety trailer

5

Description

COUNTRYSIDE

The present invention relates generally to the field of trailers and other types of traffic barriers that are used to protect road construction workers. More specifically, the present invention discloses a safety and construction trailer that has a safety wall.

15 BACKGROUND

Several types of barriers have been used to protect road construction workers from vehicles passing by them. For example, cones, barrels and flashing lights have been widely used to warn drivers of construction areas, but they provide limited protection to road construction workers in the event that a driver does not pay attention. Some of the construction projects routinely park a truck or other heavy construction equipment in the lane between the construction zone and the approaching traffic. This reduces the risk of injury to workers due to traffic in that lane, but recently with respect to wandering traffic that drifts laterally through the lanes in the construction zone. In addition, the

25 conventional barriers require a lot of time and effort to transport them to the workplace, and expose workers to a significant risk of accident during the implementation of the barrier in the workplace. Therefore, there is a need for a safety barrier that can be easily transported and deployed in the workplace. In addition, the safety barrier must protect against lateral incursions by traffic from adjacent lanes, as well as traffic on the same lane.

US 7,125,198 B2 describes a mobile protection device for the work area that includes a front support, a barrier arm assembly, and a rear support.

SUMMARY

These and other needs are addressed by the various embodiments and configurations of the present invention.

According to the invention, a safety trailer is provided comprising first and second platforms with at least one set of wheels, a longitudinal axis and a safety wall positioned between the first and second platform to define a protected area from a vehicular incursion. The safety trailer according to the invention has a safety wall that rotatably engages at least one of the first and second platforms to flip up or down when deployed. The height of the deployed safety wall is substantially the same as the width of the platform

45 of the trailer, the axis of rotation of the safety wall is substantially parallel to and spatially displaced from the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer to one side of said axle and to a plane containing both the axis of rotation of the safety wall and the axis longitudinal of the safety trailer that is not vertical, but transverse to a vertical plane.

Other preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims 2 through 9.

The present invention can provide a number of advantages depending on the particular configuration. As an example, the safety trailer may have sufficient mass and absorption energy to resist, without substantial displacement, the kinetic energy of the impact. The safety wall itself can be made

55 of any rigid material, such as steel. Lightweight materials that have high strength are not typically favorable because their reduced weight is less able to withstand, without significant displacement, the force of a vehicle collision. Energy absorption can be obtained with shock absorbers and inflated tires. Preferred trailer configurations are not deployed on hydraulic jack stands, which can minimize the energy absorption of these mechanisms.

The safety wall or barrier (and therefore the entire trailer) can be of any selected length or extensible to provide a work area protected from vehicle raids. This can provide maintenance workers with important safety benefits while providing greater driver safety.

65 The traffic raid side of the safety trailer, including any elongated safety wall,

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It can be substantially flat to avoid clogging or snagging with a vehicle that hits. Obstructions and hooks can direct more impact kinetic energy to the wall and / or cause the vehicle to tip over the safety wall.

5 The height of the safety wall may be high enough to prevent entry into the protected work area of a vehicle that impacts due to ascent, turn or by deflection above the wall.

The end of the range platforms integrated into the trailer design can minimize the need for workers to leave the protected area and eliminate the need for different maintenance vehicles by providing on-board hydraulic components, compressors, generators and power supply facilities, fuel, water, storage and portable toilets.

Structural protection can be extended over and along the work area for greater environmental relief (rain or sun).

15 The trailer can carry independent safety and directional lighting on both ends and works with any standard semi trailer. Impact-absorbing and directional lighting features incorporated at each end of the trailer and on the rear platform can be combined with the enhanced safety and lighting wall to provide increased protection for both workers' equipment and the public, especially with the increasing amounts of night construction. Optionally, an impact absorbent tail box can be connected to the opposite end of the trailer to provide additional safety lighting and impact protection.

25 The trailer can be designed to eliminate the need for trailers or lighting trucks separately, to reduce glare to traffic, to eliminate the need for separate vehicles to remove portable sanitary facilities, to provide a brighter working environment , more controlled and improved security, and among other things, to better facilitate the construction during 24 hours along the roads of the country.

The trailer can be designed to provide road maintenance personnel with improved protection against constant traffic approaching and passing to the side, to reduce the ability of passing traffic to see within the work area (to mitigate curiosity as they pass and secondary incidents), and provide a fully contained, enhanced mobile environment within which work teams can

35 work day or night, complete with power, lighting, ventilation, heating, cooling and top protection options including shadows by means of extendable meshes for sun protection, or canvas covers for rain protection, snow or other inclement weather.

Platforms at both ends of the trailer can be provided for hydraulic components, compressors, generators, batteries, water nebulizers, water sprinklers, pumps for the extraction of liquids from the protected work area, fans, tool storage, fuel related facilities , water, storage and toilets and other amenities. The trailer can be fully structured or adapted with direction and safety lighting, as well as lighting for the work area and platforms. Power outlets can be provided inside the area of

45 work to use the equipment and construction tools, with the minimum need for trailers and power cables separately. Both front and rear platforms can provide areas for fuel, water and storage. Additional space for fuel, water and miscellaneous storage can be provided in an optional extended tail van of similar but elongated design.

Other applications include but are not limited to public safety, protection, shelter or portable shelter and communications and public works. Two or more trailers can be used together to provide a fully enclosed interior area, as may be necessary in multi-lane highway environments.

55 Due to the significant changes in work shifts in construction and night maintenance, the trailer can provide a well-lit, autonomous and mobile safety enclosure. Even so, cones can be used to block lanes and detection systems or personnel can be used to provide warning of a wandering driver, but none offers physical protection or more than a warning of a fraction of a second of drivers that may be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics or those who for any reason, look at the lamps or construction / maintenance equipment and turn or deviate along it.

The safety trailer can be deployed easily, quickly and conveniently. The trailer for example

65 may be able to couple the safety trailer hook from multiple directions instead of just a specific orientation. The safety trailer may have an air suspension in the

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rear platform to allow any side or all of the front and / or rear platforms to be raised or collapsed.

The safety trailer can have connections for semi trailers at both ends and a wall of

5 safety that is fixed to the side of the trailer. However, that side can be changed to the right or left side of the road, depending on the end to which the semi-trailer is connected. A tail box can be attached to the end of the trailer opposite the tractor, to provide additional lighting and impact protection.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the description of the invention (s) contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present invention (s). These drawings, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention (s). The drawings simply illustrate preferred and alternative examples of how the invention (s) can be made and used and should not be considered as limiting the invention or inventions to only the examples illustrated and described. Additional features and advantages will become apparent from the following more detailed description of the various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the drawings referred to below.

Figure 1 is a side view of a safety trailer not deployed in accordance with the prior art;

Figure 2 is a side view of a safety trailer deployed in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along a latitudinal axle of a deployed safety trailer (the axle that passes between the first and second platforms) in accordance with the prior art showing a first and second wall structures placed on each side of the safety trailer;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along a latitudinal axis of a trailer of

35 deployed safety (the axis that passes between the first and second platforms) according to the prior art showing a wall structure placed on a first side of the safety trailer;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along a latitudinal axis of a deployed safety trailer of Figure 4 in accordance with the prior art showing the wall structure placed on a second opposite side of the safety trailer;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along a latitudinal axle of a deployed safety trailer (the axle that passes between the first and second platforms) according to the

Prior art showing first and second stackable wall structures placed on each side of the safety trailer;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along a latitudinal axle of a deployed safety trailer (the axle that passes between the first and second platforms) in accordance with the prior art showing a first and second stackable wall structures. placed on each side of the safety trailer;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of an unfolded safety trailer taken along line 14-14 of Figure 10 according to an embodiment of the invention with the wall structure

55 that moves to an unfolded position;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an unfolded safety trailer taken along line 14-14 of Figure 10 according to an embodiment of the invention with the wall structure moving to an unfolded position;

Figure 10 is an isometric view of the safety trailer according to the invention;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an unfolded safety trailer taken along line 17-17 of Figure 13 according to an embodiment of the invention with the wall structure

65 that moves to an unfolded position;

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Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of an unfolded safety trailer taken along line 17-17 of Figure 13 according to an embodiment of the invention with the wall structure moving to an unfolded position;

Figure 13 is an isometric view of the safety trailer according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

general

When designing a vehicle impact resistant safety trailer, there are a number of design considerations. For example, the safety trailer must have sufficient mass and energy absorption to resist, without substantial displacement, the kinetic energy of an impact. Energy absorption can be provided by means of shock absorbers or inflated tires. Deploying the trailer on supports or hydraulic jacks for vehicles can reduce energy absorption by these mechanisms. If there is insufficient mass and energy absorption, the vehicle impact can move the safety trailer to the protected work area with injuries concomitant to maintenance personnel. At the end facing the approaching or incoming traffic, the safety trailer must have an impact or collision attenuation device to absorb energy from vehicle collisions and dashboards with illuminated messages and lighting, to provide adequate warnings to the drivers. The raiding side of the safety trailer traffic, including any extended safety wall, must be substantially flat to avoid obstructions and snagging with an impact vehicle. The obstructions 25 and hooks can direct more kinetic impact energy on the wall and / or cause the vehicle to tip over the safety wall. The safety wall itself must have sufficient structural strength (for example, relatively high tensile strength and compression assignment) and elastic deformation to resist the kinetic energy of the vehicle impact. The height of the safety wall must be high enough to inhibit the entry of an impact vehicle into the protected work area when ascending, overturning and deflecting on the wall. The safety trailer must have associated plumbing / wiring equipment and facilities to assist workers in the work area. Examples include generators, lighting, compressors, batteries, water nebulizers, water sprinklers, pumps for the extraction of liquids from the protected work area, fans, tool storage and the like. The safety trailer must be deployable easily, quickly and conveniently. The trailer by

For example, it should be able to attach to the safety trailer hook from multiple directions, rather than just from a specific orientation. The safety trailer must have a pneumatic suspension on the rear platform, to allow any side, or all of the front and / or rear platforms, to be raised or collapsed. The various configurations and modalities described in this document have one or more of these characteristics.

Trailer Designs with Rotary Arm Safety Wall

In a number of safety trailer modes, the safety wall rotates on both sides of the trailer, by means of an aligned swivel arm (in a substantially vertical plane) in shape

Substantial with the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer. Each of the rotating arms, when deploying the safety wall, can lower, or engage, in a channel and / or retainer to provide additional resistance to the safety wall.

Figures 1-2 illustrate a safety trailer according to the prior art. Trailer 100 includes first and second platforms 104 and 108 interconnected by an extendable and retractable safety wall

112. The security wall 112 includes first and second sections 120 and 124, with a first section 120 receiving telescopically from the second section 124. Figure 1 represents the security wall in an unfolded configuration while Figure 2 illustrates the safety wall in a deployed configuration. In the unfolded configuration, the safety wall retracts while in the

55 configuration deployed the safety wall is extended to define a protected work area for maintenance personnel. The first and / or second platforms 104 and 108, each includes a ballast 116, which is located in the trailer 100 to displace, at least substantially, the weight of the safety wall 112.

With reference to Figures 3-7, a number of possible safety wall deployment mechanisms for various towing modes in the prior art are illustrated. In all mechanisms, the safety wall rotates, by means of a rotating arm, with respect to a rotation axis (in a substantially vertical plane that also contains the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer) and the safety wall is expandable by a telescopic mechanism similar to figures 1-2 and 8-9. Figure 3 illustrates a safety trailer configuration 300 with first and second mobile safety walls 304 and 306 mobile (rotating) independently. Each of the first and second safety walls 300 and 306 includes a pair of corresponding swivel arms 308, with a swivel arm of each wall 300 and 306 that rotates

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with respect to a common pivot 320, the rotational axis 350 of which is in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer 300. The ends of the walls 304 and 306 connect to a different pivot. The first and second safety walls 300 and 304 can be placed one above the other on a common side of the safety trailer 300 (not shown) to define a partially protected workspace

5 that has input or output for workers and equipment or on separate sides of the safety trailer 300, as shown in Figure 3, to define a fully protected and closed workspace between the walls. Figures 4-5 illustrate another safety trailer configuration 400 according to the prior art. The safety wall 404 is rotatable, by means of rotating arms 408 and around front and rear pivots 420, on both sides of the safety trailer 400. The wall includes upper and lower reinforcements 412, to provide additional structural support to the outer panel 416 .

Figures 6-7 still show another safety trailer design 600 according to the prior art. Safety trailer 600 includes first and second telescopic retractable and retractable safety walls 604 and 608, connected by rotating arms 610, to a common pivot 612, the rotational axis

15 650 which is typically substantially parallel to, and can be found in a substantially vertical plane with a longitudinal axis 700 of the safety trailer 600. The other ends of the walls 604 and 608 connect to a different common pivot, located relative to the pivot 612 , to provide a common axis of rotation. Figure 6 shows the first and second safety walls 604 and 608 located, or deployed on opposite sides of the safety trailer, to define a fully enclosed and protected workspace between the safety walls. Figure 7 shows the first and second security walls 604 and 608 stacked on top of each other, to define a wall that is twice as high as each of the first and second security walls 604 and 608 and a partially working space Closed and protected.

Trailer Designs with Safety Wall with upward and downward rotation

25 The safety wall turns up or down when deployed. The rotation axis of the safety wall is spatially offset with respect to (one side of) a longitudinal axis of the safety trailer. In other words, a plane containing both the axis of rotation of the safety wall and the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer is not vertical but transverse to a vertical plane. The plane that contains both axes is substantially horizontal.

With reference to Figures 8-10, a safety trailer 1400 according to a first embodiment of the invention of this design includes first and second platforms 1404 and 1408 with a safety wall 1412 rotatably coupled and located between the platforms. As can be seen in Figures 8-9, each

The end of the safety wall is coupled by a respectively short rotating arm 1420, a corresponding pivot 1424, with respect to which the security wall 1412 rotates upwards to deploy or downwards to retract the traffic. A rotation axis defined by the pivots 1424 is substantially parallel to, but is offset to, one side of a longitudinal axis 1500 of the trailer 1400. As can be seen in Figure 16, the first and second platforms 1404 and 1408 each include 1600 protruding brackets to support the wall when turned down to transit. Figure 8 further shows that the upper portion of the deployed wall can be supported / anchored by means of protruding pins or pins 1450. The height of the deployed safety wall is substantially the same as the width of the trailer platform.

With reference to Figures 11-13, a safety trailer 1700 according to a second embodiment of the invention includes a first and second platforms 1704 and 1708 with a safety wall 1712 rotatably coupled and located between the platforms. As can be seen in FIGS. 11-12, each end of the safety wall engages, by means of a rotating arm 1720 respectively short, a corresponding pivot 1724 with respect to which the security wall 1712 rotates downwards to deploy or upwards to retract the transit. As can be seen in Figure 13, the first and second platforms 1704 and 1708 each include a first set of holes 1900 for the spikes to support the wall when they rotate upwards to transit and a second set of holes 1950 for the spikes to support the wall when unfolding. The height of the deployed safety wall is substantially the same as the width of the trailer.

Either of the above trailer configurations and embodiments may have one or both of the platforms configured to include a rear-tail van, as described in the accompanying U.S. document. 7,572,022.

A number of variations and modifications of the invention can be used. It would be possible to provide some of the features of the invention without providing others.

On the other hand, although the description of the invention has included the description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations and

Modifications are within the scope of the invention, for example, as it may be within the skill and knowledge of those skilled in the art, after understanding the present description.

Claims (8)

Claims 1. A safety trailer (1400, 1700), comprising: 5 first and second platforms (1404, 1704 and 1408, 1708) comprising at least one set of wheels, a longitudinal axis (1500) and a safety wall (1412) positioned between the first (1404,1704) and second (1408 , 1708) platform to define a protected area from a vehicular incursion, characterized in that said safety wall (1412, 1712) is rotatably coupled 10 to at least one of the first and second platform to rotate up or down when deployed in such a way that -the height of the deployed safety wall (1412, 1712) is substantially the same as the width of the trailer platform; 15 - the axis of rotation of the safety wall is substantially parallel to and spatially displaced from the longitudinal axis (1500) of the safety trailer (1400.1700) on one side of said axis; Y 20 -a plane containing both the axis of rotation of the safety wall (1412, 1712) and the longitudinal axis of the safety trailer (1400.1700) is not vertical but transverse to a vertical plane. 2. The safety trailer of claim 1, wherein the plane containing both axles is substantially horizontal. 3. The safety trailer of claims 1 or 2, wherein each end of the safety wall is coupled, through a respective rotating short arm (1420), to a corresponding pivot (1424), on which the wall Safety (1412) turns up for deployment or down for traffic withdrawal. 30 4. The safety trailer of claim 3, wherein the axis of rotation defined by the pivots (1424) is substantially parallel to, but is offset to, one side of, a longitudinal axis (1500) of the trailer (1400). The safety trailer of claims 1-4, wherein the first and second platforms (1404) and (1408) each include protruding supports (1600) to support the wall when it is turned down for transit. 6. The safety trailer of claims 1-4, further comprising pins or pins protruding (1450) to support / anchor an upper part of the deployed wall. 7. The safety trailer of claims 1 or 2, wherein one end of the safety wall is coupled, through a respective rotating short arm (1720), a corresponding pivot (1724), on which the wall Safety (1712) turns down for deployment or up for traffic withdrawal. Four. Five 8. The safety trailer of claim 7, wherein the first and second platforms (1704 and 1708) each include a first set of holes (1900) for the pins to hold the wall when it is turned up for transit and a second set of holes (1950) for the pegs to hold the wall when deployed. fifty 9. The safety trailer of claim 7, wherein a ballast (116) is disposed on the first and / or second platform, which is movable along a fixed path, on one side of the first and / or second platform for the other side; to at least partially compensate the weight of the safety wall. 7